Slot machine with dynamic wild symbol feature
AssigneeWMS Gaming Inc.
InventorsJason C. Gilmore, Wesley D. Stayte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A slot machine conducts a wagering game in which a plurality of arrays of symbols are successively displayed. Each array may, for example, result from a free spin of a plurality of symbol-bearing reels. In each free spin, the reels are rotated and stopped to place the symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. One or more of the symbols of each array are designated as wild. Payouts for the successive arrays are awarded according to a pay table. In one embodiment, the plurality of arrays are successively displayed during a bonus game triggered by a start-bonus outcome in a basic game.
Claims22
A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:
- receiving a wager from a player to initiate a play of the wagering game, said play being associated with the wager;
- successively displaying a plurality of different arrays of symbols on a display area during said play of the wagering game, wherein each array is comprised of a plurality of rows and columns;
- randomly designating one or more of the symbols of each array as wild;
- and
- awarding payouts for the successive arrays according to a pay table.
A method conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:
- receiving a wager from a player to initiate a play of the wagering game, said play being associated with the wager;
- successively displaying a plurality of different arrays of symbols on a display area during said play of the wagering game, wherein each array is comprised of a plurality of rows and columns;
- randomly designating one or more of the symbols of each array as wild;
- and
- awarding payouts for the successive arrays according to a pay table,
- wherein each array is generated by a plurality of symbol-bearing reels that are rotated and stopped to place the symbols on the reels in visual association with the display area, and
- wherein the step of randomly designating one or more of the symbols of each array as wild includes randomly designating only one of the reels as wild.
A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:
- receiving a wager from a player to initiate a play of the wagering game;
- successively displaying a plurality of different array of symbols on a plurality of symbol-bearing reels during the play of the wagering game, wherein in each spin the plurality of reels are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area;
- randomly designating one of the reels as wild for each spin;
- and
- awarding payouts for each of the spins according to a pay table.
A gaming machine comprising:
- a wagering apparatus for receiving a wager from a player to initiate a play of a wagering game, said play being associated with the wager;
- a display for successively displaying a plurality of different arrays of symbols on a display area during said play of the wagering game, wherein each array is comprised of a plurality of rows and columns;
- means for designating one or more of the symbols of each array as wild;
- and
- an award apparatus for awarding payouts for the successive arrays according to a pay table,
- wherein the symbols of each array are randomly selected.
A gaming machine, comprising:
- a wagering apparatus for receiving a wager from a player to initiate a play of a wagering game, said play being associated with the wager;
- a display for successively displaying a plurality of different arrays of symbols on a display area during said play of the wagering game, wherein each array is comprised of a plurality of rows and columns;
- means for designating one or more of the symbols of each array as wild;
- and
- an award apparatus for awarding payouts for the successive arrays according to a pay table,
- wherein each array is generated by a plurality of symbol-bearing reels that are rotated and stopped to place the symbols on the reels in visual association with the display area, and
- wherein the means for designating one or more of the symbols of each array as wild includes means for designating one of the reels as wild.
A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:
- receiving a wager from a player to initiate a play of the wagering game, said play being associated with the wager;
- successively displaying a plurality of different arrays of symbols on a display area during said play of the wagering game, wherein each array is comprised of a plurality of rows and columns;
- randomly designating one or more of the symbols of each array as having a special function;
- and
- awarding payouts for the successive arrays according to a pay table.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.